A number of upper-level management changes have been announced by Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services Acting Secretary Janet Schalansky. Each of the positions being announced are being filled in an acting capacity.

Candy Shively, chief of social services in the Topeka Area Office for SRS the past six years, has been named Commissioner of Income Support and Medical Services. Shively, who has been Chief of Social Service for the Topeka Area SRS Office the past four year, has worked for the agency a total of 15 years, the majority of the time in the income maintenance division. She was Chief of Income Maintenance in the Kansas City Area for two and one-half years, working her way up from income maintenance worker to unit supervisor and then to section supervisor.

The SRS Commission of Income Support and Medical Services operates cash assistance programs, medical services and the state's Child Support Enforcement program. The Commission had a $189.2 million budget in state fiscal year 1994.

Ben Coates, who has held the position of Acting Superintendent at the Youth Center at Topeka, will move into the post of Commissioner of Youth and Adult Services. Coates was appointed YCAT superintendent in September of last year. He previously was services delivery chief in the commission. Coates also served four years as director of juvenile offender programs at SRS from 1982-1986. He was executive director of the Kansas Sentencing Commission from 1989 to 1993.

The Youth and Adult Services Commission has overall responsibility for the state's four youth centers. It also provides services to protect the health and welfare of children, operates foster care and adoption services, and provides adult abuse investigation and adult guardianships. The commission had a $116.9 budget in fiscal year 1994.

As commissioner, Coates replaces Carolyn Risley Hill, who held the post since January, 1991. Hill has accepted a job with the Child Welfare League of America, Washington, D.C.

Hill has worked for SRS 21 years, moving up from a social worker to commissioner. She also served as Area Director in the Wichita SRS area from 1988 to 1992. Secretary Schalansky said she is very sorry to lose Commissioner Hill, whom she said has done excellent work during her many years at SRS.

Carolyn has served the families and children of Kansas well," she said.

A final change announced by Schalansky is the appointment of Leo Herrman as Acting Superintendent at YCAT. Herrman has worked at the youth center for 20 years, serving as program director for five years, chief psychologist for five years and staff psychologist for 10 years.

Schalansky said each of the people she has chosen to fill these important positions is well-qualified. I have every confidence in their ability to manage these demanding positions," she said.

Page Last Updated: May 29, 2001